Frustrated driving instructors are holding a second protest in South Shields to highlight the impact of closing their local driving test centre, hoping to catalyse a U-turn from the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency).
The DVSA plan to shut down South Shields Driving Test Centre on April 10, along with a number of other test centres across the country.
In response to the cuts, 50 local instructors are expected to perform a drive-by protest in their learner cars on Monday morning, travelling between Sunderland and South Shields test centres.
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It follows a forty vehicle strong protest in late January, where instructors completed a 'go slow' protest between the test centre on Bede industrial estate and the Town Hall.
Although examiners are being re-deployed to test centres in the surrounding area, such as Sunderland which is 5.6 miles away, protesters argue that there will still be job losses as a result.
Organiser Vikki Holt, a self-employed instructor, said there has been an "outcry" from the public over the planned closure because it is "yet another facility" taken away from the people of South Shields.
Jarrow MP Kate Osborne, Leader of South Tyneside council Tracey Dixon and South Shields MP Emma Lewell-Buck have all shown their support for the campaign.
The three politicians attended a meeting with campaigners and the DVSA on January 28, which Vicki said left "many unanswered questions".
She continued: "We've heard nothing from them since, despite sending a list of unanswered questions and requesting a break of costings for the current test centre.
"They are dragging their heels because they know the clock is ticking.
"We're frustrated because there has been no public consultation and the closure is coming at such a bad time - when the economy is fragile and people are feeling the squeeze due to the cost of living.
"It will impact people for generations to come, and if we don't make our voices heard, they will continue to cut services."
Campaigners argue that the closure will increase the cost of lessons, because instructors will need to take their customers from South Shields to Sunderland, using more fuel and more time.
They said it will also increase waiting times, as instructors are forced out of the profession.
Vikki Holt, who is a self-employed driving instructor, said: "The DVSA say that people don't need to have lessons in Sunderland to take their test there, but I created a poll which shows that the majority of people would be uncomfortable taking a test on roads they are unfamiliar with.
"At the moment we are already getting about 4 or 5 enquiries each day from people in South Shields, if the closure goes ahead, it will deprive people of the right to learn to drive."
MP Kate Osborne, meanwhile, is still waiting for a meeting with transport secretary Grant Shapps.
DVSA spokesperson said: “We have made the decision to close the South Shields driving test centre, as there are other nearby centres where the same services can be relocated.
“We understand this change may cause an inconvenience for some, but we have worked hard to ensure that there is no change in the number of tests provided to local candidates, and no tests were lost as a result of the closure.
“It is vital that learners are prepared to drive safely on all types of road before taking their test, rather than simply learning driving test centre routes."
Vikki believes there's around 100 instructors in the area who will be impacted by the closure.
